Wicked Vengeance (Grimm River #2)

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Royal

“ W e’ll use the woods for cover until we get closer.”

Ronan’s voice filters loud and clear through the earpiece as we file out of the SUV. The house we’re checking out sits deep in the forest along Grimm River, about twenty minutes outside of town.

An overgrown, narrow driveway is the only access point we can find, so we approached from the other side of the river. We parked the truck in the woods nearby to hide the vehicle and make the rest of this journey on foot.

As we cross the shallow river bed and draw closer, more anxiety swirls in my gut. In mere minutes, we could find Em– or, as I now know, her real name– Emera. This is a big moment. We could be bringing her home to reunite with her mother. I know better than to get my hopes up. Ronan is right– this feels too easy. King has more than likely laid a trap for us. We would be fools to think he would slip up. Still, hope mingles with my anxious nerves.

Icy water seeps into my boots, soaking the bottom of my pants. Goosebumps prickle on my skin like a wave washing over my entire body. A shiver crawls up my spine, and I keep my eyes peeled for anything amiss.

“Breathe, Royal,” Alek says, walking beside me.

"Breathe? I can't. Not until I see for myself that Em is safe and back in Raena's arms where she belongs. I'll breathe when King is feeding the worms.”

“I know. Let's find out what we can while we're here. Then we can figure out our next move,” he says, clasping my shoulder in reassurance.

The trek across the river is short, and the six of us emerge into the thick coverage of trees that line the rocky bank. Our boots crunch along the damp forest floor as we move in formation to the edge of the treeline like we’ve been working together forever, not having just met this morning. The Huntsmen know what they are doing, that much is clear. We slow to a stop when the white house comes into view.

“I see two guards patrolling the perimeter,” Dax whispers quietly.

Scanning the property, I spot two Kingsmen walking in opposite directions around the edge of the house. We watch as they meet at the front porch and exchange a few words. One of them disappears inside the house, and the other turns to scan the area one more time before following him.

“That’s our opening,” Ronan says. “Dax, you’re up. Stay out of sight.”

Dax gives us a wicked smile, moving faster than you would think a man of his stature would be capable of, darting across the open space before flattening his body along the side of the house. He skirts around the back, disappearing out of sight.

“What’s he doing?” I ask, mostly to myself, but Ronan answers regardless.

“What he does best.”

My asshole climbs its way to my throat as the minutes pass, waiting for him to reappear. My anxiety reaches new heights when three gunshots ring out in quick succession, echoing through the woods and scattering the birds from the trees.

“Move. Now!” Ronan barks before we take off towards the house in a desperate sprint.

I have no idea what we’re about to encounter, but the anticipation builds in my gut, and adrenaline pumps through my veins like liquid energy.

My back hits the side of the house with a soft thud. Maddox and Alek trail right behind me while Ronan and Jasper lead the way.

Ronan stops just before reaching the back corner of the house. “We’ll take the back door. You three take the front entrance and make sure no one escapes. This isn’t a scouting mission anymore. This is search and rescue. We have a possible man down, and we still don’t know if Em is here. Subdue and restrain if possible. If not, take them out.”

I nod in silent agreement before he turns around and disappears around the corner with Jasper on his heels. Alek and Maddox give me a reassuring nod as we raise our guns and slip around the front.

The porch is small, with the steeply pitched roof extended about six feet over the white, painted deck. Alek passes Maddox on the porch steps, kicking in the door with his massive boot. The wood frame splinters, sending the door crashing into the interior wall.

The sight that greets us as we push inside the threshold nearly buckles my knees. My lungs seize in my chest as I take in the scene before me.

What the fuck happened?

The entryway leads into an open living room to the right, with the kitchen to the left. On the hardwood floor, one of the Kingsmen is sprawled out, his throat slashed in one clean cut. Blood pools beneath him, spreading out and slipping under the backside of the couch that sits beside him. I recognize him as Carter, one of King’s upper-level men.

We step over the nearly decapitated man, our weapons ready, as we spread out to search the rest of the space for any sign of Dax, Em, and the other Kingsman.

We find Dax first, his back against the kitchen cabinets, clutching his bloody shoulder. We move across the space towards him, clearing it as we go.

We find the missing Kingsman lying in a pool of blood at the threshold of the hallway, a perfectly centered hole in his forehead. Moving closer, I recognize this one as well. Sheldon was another upper-level in King's organization. Reaching down, I pick up his discarded weapon, slipping it inside my waistband as Ronan and Jasper appear from the back hallway.

“All clear,” Jasper says, going straight to Dax to check his wound.

“What happened?” Ronan asks.

“The one in the living room shot at me on sight. I slit his throat before the second one came out of the hallway. The fucker got me in the shoulder, but I got a headshot, so I win,” Dax grumbles, his stoic demeanor cracking just a little around his pained grin.

“Search the rest of the house. I’ll stay with Dax in case anyone else shows up,” Jasper says.

Ronan looks like he wants to protest, but he schools his features and leads the way down the narrow hall instead. My brothers and I follow behind him.

I don’t like not being in charge, but the decision for Ronan to lead this mission was the smartest move. I am too emotionally invested to make the decisions that must be made in this situation. I can’t let my pride jeopardize the importance of bringing Em home.

When we reach the first set of doors, he motions for us to search each room. There are two doors on each side. Ronan and I take the first room on the left while Maddox and Alek split off to search the right.

This room is a woman’s, with shades of purple adorning the bed and curtains. The bed is unmade– it’s clearly recently slept in. Ronan searches the closet as I enter the bathroom. Clothes litter the floor near the shower, and beads of water still cling to the glass.

“Someone else is here,” I tell him, walking back into the bedroom as he exits the closet.

“Could be whoever he has taking care of Em. We’ll find them.”

We move back out to the hallway, and Maddox and Alek exit the room on the right at the same time.

“All clear. Just a guest room that looks unused,” Alek says quietly.

“There’s a woman here. Keep your eyes open,” I tell them as we continue to the end of the hallway.

The door on the right is open, revealing a small guest bathroom. Maddox does a quick search before coming back, shaking his head.

The last door is closed. Dread swirls in the pit of my stomach, unsettling me for what we might find once we open the door. None of us speak as Ronan opens the door and pushes inside.

Taking a look at the room, hope spreads throughout my body when I spot a familiar little white horse lying on the floor. I gave her the plush animal before she disappeared.

“She’s he-here,” I whisper, my voice breaking under the emotion that threatens to swallow me as I fall to my knees and clutch the little horse to my chest. Alek and Maddox grab my shoulders, giving me just a moment before pulling me to my feet and meeting my eyes.

“Come on. Let’s find her,” Maddox says, clearing the emotion out of his own throat.

I reign my emotions back in and clear my throat as Ronan exits the bathroom. Fiery determination cloaks my body as I step over to him with my brothers. “Search every goddamn inch of this property. She’s here.”